Referendum Result: BNP's Walker to compete for city council leadership

BNP councillor Alby Walker today indicated he will compete to become the next leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Speaking shortly after it emerged that voters had chosen to scrap the position of elected mayor, Mr Walker said: "I will throw my hat into the ring right now."

He said that yesterday's landmark referendum – in which residents opted for a leader and cabinet to run the council – had been "flawed" because of the way the Government put the question to voters.

He added: "The whole thing has been flawed because of the way that the Government has written the question intentionally to confuse the issue.

"There was confusion and apathy combined in the vote, and I think it was a kickback against the current elected mayor who has not got a political mandate."

Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley, leader of the Potteries Alliance, said he had predicted a turnout of 18 per cent and said that the low number of voters was not a good sign for local democracy. Turnout in the referendum was 19.23 per cent.

But he added: "The elected mayor is a lame duck but he has been a lame duck for a long time and it is clear that things have to be done differently."